“Trust is earned, not freely given,” James said.“He is right, and I would have likely done the same, if I was in his place,” Calvin said.“Th...t does not make it right,” J.A. grumbled.“I prefer to sit upright; when I didn’t know who is a friend or foe, I took the course of action I deemed best. I make no excuse for it, and I only ask your understanding.”.“It was no intentional slight,” Calvin said.“That still does not make it any better. It is a taste left in the mouth,” J. A. said.“Then rinse it. "Marcia took the girl's hand."Hey," she echoed, softly.So many were the things Marcia imagined saying in this moment, a realDr.-Livingstone-I-presume-moment if she'd ever lived one, but nothingcame to mind, or rather, too much came to mind. "Hey" turned out to bethe best she could do."Can I help you with that?" Marcia managed, indicating the backpack."I'm good."They started up the street together; Phoebe as if she knew where she wasgoing or, at least, as if Marcia knew; Marcia not sure. I headed for the ladies room. God willing, I wouldn’t catch anything in there. —- When I arrived at the funeral home, Tony was talking with Daddy. I could tell right away that Daddy had no idea who he was, and that he was getting an abbreviated form of the same introduction I’d gotten. Melissa was giving Tony the eye from behind Daddy. I recognized the look. While her behavior didn’t surprise me, the sudden spike of jealousy stunned me. What the hell was that? I’d just met the guy, and already. With a stern look at Ann I said I hope you didn’t do anything you’d regret last night. Being on the subject I asked them how they learned so much about sex being that I could count the guys they had been with on one hand. They both laughed at me and said just because they were younger than me didn’t stop them from watching porn on the computer. Finishing our drinks I suggested we clean up our mess from the day before because we didn’t know what time mom and Aunt Jill would be home. They agreed.